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In Iowa officials are proposing a policy that will put religion back in the public school. The school board in Spencer, Iowa is proposing a sweeping policy change. A change that will sanction prayer at graduation exercises and other extra-curricular activities, allow for the distribution of religious materials on school grounds, and allow the employee (e.g. teachers) expression of personal religious beliefs. In addition, the school district wants religion in the curriculum, mandating two classes: "The Bible in History and Literature" and "Critic of Darwinism, a scientific approach".
The proposal, "Religious Liberty at Spencer Community Schools", if adopted, paves a road to school-sponsored evangelizing. While it is possible the officials may have good intentions, the actual proposal is a blatant endorsement of Christian beliefs. If school sanctioned prayer and the allowance for distribution of religious materials on school grounds is not enough evidence for religious bias, than mandating two classes, Bible Study and a pseudo-science class challenging evolution, simply fails to pass the smell test. Add to that list "the employee expression of personal religious beliefs" (e.g. How Mr. Brown the Phys. Ed. teacher "got Jesus") and the proposal becomes a first amendment land mine. Why would any public school policy encourage teachers sharing their religious beliefs with students?
The proposal claims to be a "recognition of both the Establishment clause, and the Free Practice clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution". Yet this is more than free practice, this is mandated and enforced practice. If you want to graduate, you must pray; If you want to play sports, you must pray, (or at least pretend to pray and/or be forced to suffer the superstitious non-sense of others); In class you must listen to your teachers testimonial if they choose to share...
The policy proposal is simply abhorrent. Those making and endorsing the proposal are way out of line. It seems clear their goal is to endorse or advance a religious belief, Christianity. As such it will surely fail any legal challenge. And it should. Indeed, where are the parents of Spencer, Iowa? Where are the defenders of reason and free thought? Where is the outrage?
File download: Read the proposal: "Religious Liberty at Spencer Community Schools" (Word document)
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Comments
If the intent is to teach religion, then the courses should focus on all the religions, their historical context, and how they converge and diverge. Empirical data show that courses that teach a wide diversity of religions promotes religious tolerance, so there is some community value in such a course.
Additionally, they need to define 'religion' to make such a proposal. Would they allow spiritual and meditative practices to be taught and performed at school events? How would they make sure that the curriculum is all encompassing and accurate.
This plan appears to lack any actual thought and intent to improve education and community health and instead promote the inclusion of a select subset of religious views. If this in not their intent, they should go back to the drawing board and put forth a 'real' proposal.
On a quick inspection, the attached document is open ended enough to include any religion even atheism. It doesn't look like anything you should be afraid of? What is the source of the attachment? It has no markings of origin.
John
John,
Follow the "Iowa officials" link in the first sentence of the post. That will take you to the original source of the attached document.
While the doc may appear open ended, the mandating of Bible study and refutation of Darwin is clearly problematic.
Thanks for reading.
There they go again, will they ever learn we really do not want our children indoctrinated by our schools,that's not their place. And we do not want to turn this country into a theocracy for cryin out loud. That really irks me too, that they want to not just bring religion in but they are definitely focusing on christianity and that's another problem they're having and hopefully the citizens will not let this kind of crap go unanswered. Don't get me wrong I'd rather there were no religions at all, then no one would have to worry about what happens to them when they die or that they'll burn for eternity in hellfire if they're not a good guy...get a life
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